GUWAHATI: The court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Churachandpur has issued a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of the chief of Meitei Leepun, over a provocative statement he made. The warrant comes on the heels of Pramot Singh’s conspicuous absence from court, even after a proper notice was served.
The court’s directive stems from a contentious interview Singh gave to renowned journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire on June 6, in which he asserted that the Kukis would be “wiped out or annihilated” from Manipur. This comment ignited vehement objections and unrest from the Kuki-Zo community.
Earlier on July 8, an FIR was lodged against Singh at the Kangpokpi Police Station. The complaint, initiated by the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) of Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi, cited charges from the Indian Penal Code, accusing Singh of promoting discord among different groups, defamation, and stirring public mischief.
In a subsequent court hearing, the assistant public prosecutor revealed that during their investigation, they pinpointed Singh’s address at Nepali Basti, Chingmeirong, in the Imphal West District.
This area is under the jurisdiction of the Lamphel Police Station. Singh’s office location was also identified in Sana Konung, Imphal East District. A significant revelation came to light during the hearing. Due to the ongoing communal tensions, the Investigating Officer’s application stated that arresting Singh at the moment could be problematic as his residential area falls under the Lamphel Police Station’s jurisdiction.
A directive was dispatched to the Officer-in-Charge of the Lamphel Police Station for appropriate actions. Yet, no updates or responses were received, leading to a follow-up reminder dispatched on September 9 under the Code of Criminal Procedure’s Section 41A.
The continued lack of communication led to a subsequent notice, urging Singh to personally present himself before the Investigating Officer at Churachandpur Police Station on October 2. Once again, the response was met with silence.
Taking into account the case’s proceedings and the evidence at hand, the court has officially issued the arrest warrant for Pramot Singh, with a mandate for its execution by November 9.
